Entering the Public Domain in 2026

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As the calendar turns over to another year, another set of copyrighted characters and works enters the public domain after serving the standard copyrighted term in the United States of 95 years.

While the original Mickey Mouse drawings started to enter the public domain in recent years, he is now joined by his four-legged companion Pluto , who debuted in the 1930 cartoon “The Chain Gang.” While Pluto is now available for all kinds of new genres, it will be another two years before the Disney ensemble is reunited with Goofy in the public domain, as his debut was not until a couple years later in 1932.

black and white cartoon character woman drawn with curls of black hair, large round eyes with accentuated eyelashes, and a low cut dress
Betty Boop, 1930

Also joining the public domain this year will be Betty Boop, though only derived from her first appearance in 1930 in which Betty has elongated dog ears and something of a puppy’s countenance, if you will. Joining Betty is also the comic strip Blondie, published in 1930 as well.

In bold orange as if lit by fire, an anxious man's face looks upward under a green helmet against a dark background.
Poster of the 1930 film All Quiet on the Western Front

Outside of disney and cartoons, the classic German World War I story All Quiet on the Western Front enters the public domain both in its book and original movie form in English. Interestingly, the most recent adaption of the film, which came out in 2022, required the production team to continually purchase the rights to the film. While the German version did enter the public domain two years prior to the English versions, the most recent iteration of the film preceded the material’s entry into the public domain. In an inspiring story, the screenwriter of the 2022 film continually won triathlons in order to pay to preserve the rights over a 16 year period, incurring costs of $200,000. If anything, this shows how the public domain can actually benefit rights holders, and it certainly paid off as Lesley Paterson and other producers boast 9 Oscar nominations for the film which, by way of purchasing exclusive rights to the story, became a focal point at a prescient cultural moment.

It remains to be seen what new creations and pulled together with the now permissible uses of some iconic American characters, stories, and songs.

Published by Gabriel Feldstein

Digital Publishing and Outreach Specialist, O'Neill Library